Why it matters: Italy is moving to join — as an observer — the U.S.-backed Board of Peace for Gaza, signalling a pragmatic doctrine: stay inside decisive processes shaping Gaza’s post‑war order and the wider regional balance while navigating constitutional constraints at home.
Driving the news: Tajani is set to brief Parliament after a political push by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government to formalize Italy’s participation through a parliamentary vote of guidance.
- A government summit took place this afternoon at Palazzo Chigi, attended by PM Meloni and her deputy prime ministers, ahead of Tajani’s communications to lawmakers.
- Tajani will appear before the Senate’s Foreign Affairs and Defence committees in joint session after first delivering formal communications to the Chamber of Deputies, as opposition parties demanded clarification on Italy’s role.
- Rome plans to attend the first Board meeting in Washington as an observer — the only formula deemed compatible with Italy’s constitutional framework.
State of play: Italy’s leadership argues the country cannot afford to be absent from Gaza’s reconstruction framework.
- “We cannot stay out of Gaza’s reconstruction,” Tajani told Corriere della Sera, framing observer status as both a constitutional necessity and a strategic choice to stabilise the Middle East.
- Rome sees participation as a way to influence post‑Hamas governance and reconstruction decisions without formally joining the governing structure.
- Officials also point to the presence of the European Commission and other European actors to rebut claims of excessive alignment with Washington.
The big picture: Meloni’s decision reflects a broader foreign‑policy doctrine: Italy should be present wherever major geopolitical decisions are made.
- Observer status, according to the government, offers three advantages:
- Access to discussions on Gaza’s future.
- Protection from constitutional challenges at home.
- Alignment with the U.S. while remaining anchored in the European framework.
Between the lines: The debate exposes a deeper tension in Italian foreign policy — balancing Atlanticism with European coordination and domestic legal limits.
- Opposition leaders accuse the government of subordinating Italy to Washington and legitimising a U.S.-driven plan for Gaza.
- The government counters that absence would mean forfeiting influence over a regional transition with direct implications for migration, energy security, and Mediterranean stability.
Zoom in: Strategic rationale. Participation is framed not as ideological alignment but as strategic realism.
- As noted by columnist Roberto Arditti on Formiche, our sister website, being inside the Board — even as an observer — strengthens Italy’s credibility and signals a more political, pragmatic Europe willing to engage in security and reconstruction decisions rather than relying solely on multilateral diplomacy.
What to watch: Who will represent Italy in Washington remains unresolved.
- Tajani is the most likely envoy, though Meloni herself could attend depending on the level of participation by other European leaders.
- Italian diplomacy is closely watching Berlin and other capitals to calibrate the political weight of its delegation.
Bottom line: Italy is betting that presence without full membership is better than principled absence — a middle path designed to keep Rome relevant in shaping Gaza’s future while avoiding constitutional and political pitfalls at home.
